Method of and apparatus for dehydrating substances



' O 19 5. J. A QJ NNIER 2,387,458

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATING SUBSTANCES Filed Dec.

16, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet l r w a y Iorize gl Oct.23,1 945. J. J. MJONNlER 8 VMETHODOF AND APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATING SUBSTANCES 7 Filed Dec.

'o gt 23, 1945. T

J, J. MOJONNIER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATING SUBSTANCES 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 16, 1942 Oct. 23, 1: MOJQNQIER METHOD OFAND APPARATUS IFOR DEHYDRATiNG SUBSTANCES Filedbecl 16, 1942 a Sheets-Sheet 4 II VD? l I ZZZ f fimt, 83,1945 i J. ,1. MQJONNIER 2,387,453

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATING SUBSTANCES Filed Dec. 16, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet 7 T Y9ZU 48 fix? Oct- 5- .1. .1. MOJGNNIER 2,387,458

METHODOF AND APPARATUS FOR 'DEHYDRATING SUBSTANCES I Filed Dec. 16, 1942 a Sheets-Sheet a Thepresent invention relates to a and apparatus for, dehydrating substances containing a considerable percentage of'moisture, 9 suchas fresh eggs, whole milk, skimmilk, whey,

. yegetablepurees, soups, fruit sauces, tomato juice, other like liquids and semi-liquid products.

Qne obiect of the invention is to produce a dehydratedfproduct which will be practically a dry l ,1 Patented Dean, 1945 a 1 um'rao STATES f PATENT tot-ms I DEBYDRATING SUBSTANCES Julius J. "Mojonnier, Winfield, IlL, asslgnor to .Mojonnier Bros. 00., a corporation of Illinois pow er; 1

other" object. i to produce. a product such .that when it is reconstituted it willhave its netural .flavonaroma and color, to a marked degree.

I c J Another object is to produce a product which will possess allits original vitamins and enzymes. 1

c r Another object is to producea product having i 1 t a hishdegreeoi' solubility and" of good keeping;

uqualitmk; i These objectse- -apdry powder, natural flavor, lreadysolubilityyand good keeping qualities-all contribute to. the ready acceptance of the prod- Another object of the invention is to makethe M processcontinuous. c 1 Another object is to improve theeiilciency in heat consumption. In other words, to get a larger number of pounds of powderper gallon] oifoil, (the fuel. employed) than. is possible with Driorjartfldeviees, with -the same furnace.

Other objects have to do with the equipment I 3 and involve= ;improving themixing or the ma .terialworked upon with the heated air, the; niechanismtfor jostling thematerial in the final 1 Application December 16, 1942, Serial No. 469,272 llClaims. (c1. H)

m thod f, effectively. The stream of air is kept in: an unsaturated state throughout its flow.

The invention, together. with its various features and advantages, will-be more fully understood upon reference to the accompanying drawings wherein I have disclosed the novel method and apparatus by which the method may be carried out advantageously, while the scope of the invention will be set forth inthe appended claims.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view oi the main portion of the apparatus by which the inventionis carried out. Fig. 2 is an elevation of thesame, viewed from the right in Fig. l, but omitting the pump, filter and cold wall tank of the earlierview. Fig. 3 is an elevation of primary and secondary collectors shown in conjunction with the. cooling system, the view being indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.. Figw-is a plan view of the cooling system. Fig. 5 is a sec,- tional elevation oi the same, the supporting structure being omitted, the section being indicated by the line 55 of Fig. 4. Fig. 615 a section through one of theheaters, the plane of section being indicated by the line 6-4 of Fig; 1. Fig. 7 is a sectional viewfon a somewhat enlarged scale of one of the snail shells or spirals through which the air flows on its way into the main precipitation chamber, the plane of section being drying operation; and the means for cooling the powder. and mixing it in the final stages of the .process; 1 V a Still another object is to produce aprocess I which will be effective on thick pastes and heavy ,creams aswell ason highly fluid substances.

In carrying out the invention, these objects are In the {particular embodiment a stream of w b tract themoisture from the Substance Eheatedpair is sucked through the equipment and 5 uthevacuum and heat and speed of action serve indicated by the line 'l-1 otFig. 1. Fig. 8 isa horizontal section through the same, the plane of section being indicated by the line 8-8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detail elevationof the damper on an enlarged scale showing the means for holding the damper in adjusted position, the same being part of the snail shell structure. Fig. 10

is a transverse section through the tube adjacent to the damper showing the same means in edge elevation, the plane of section being indicated by the line ill-Hi of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the way in which the air and hot gases pass through the heater. Fig. 12 is a. central section through the spray device. Figs. 13, 14, 15 and lfilare respectively sectional views through the several elements of the spray device, disassembled, the section of Fig. 15 being 1 indicated by the line IS -l5 of Fig. 19. Fig. 17

' is a perspective view of the primary disk or inlet.

element, showing the severalieeding openings through which the egg meat passes. Fig. 18 is asimilar view of the secondary disk or main spraying element by which the material 1 fed through the device receives its swirling motion.

Fig, 19 is an elevation of the secondary disk. Fig.

20 is a plan view of a portion of the precipitathe dehydration of through filter B, and, by means tion chamber and the spray system illustrating how the air and spray rotate as they are brought into the'chamber, parts being shown in-section indicated by the line 20-20 of Fig. 21. Fig. 21 is a vertical elevation of the same portion, viewed as indicated by the line 2l-2| of Fig. 20. Fig. 22 is a central longitudinal section through the final drier. Fig. 23 is a transverse section through the tubular shaft, the plane of section being indicated by the line 23-23 of Fig. 22. but show-' ing only the connection of one set of breaker arms. each succeeding set being disposed vec torially with reference to the set adjacent to it as indicated. Fig. 24 is an elevation and central vertical section, one-half shown in section, and the other half in vertical elevation, through the bearing of the drier shaft. Throughout these viewslike characters refer to like parts.

For the purposes of disclosure I will set forth at length one embodiment of produces egg powder, a product resulting from fresh eggs, including both yolks and whites. It will serve as; illustrative since, as before noted, other substances may be similarly reduced to a dry powdered form. In carrying out the new method, the egg meat. when properly freed from shell fragments, dirt and other objectionable matter, is supplied to' the invention which.

I causes the particles nal spiral arrangement of each, the air passes into the precipitation chamber D as a whirling mass. The egg meat enters the whirling mass of air through spray heads at the center of the snail shell devices G, respectively.

into the chamber D at great pressure a motion of rotation opposite to that of the air. Consequently, the egg meat entering into the midst of this whirling mass of air at each device G and into the relatively large chamber D with its high vacuum, results in the natural drying of the egg meat with a large drop in temperature. Theconcentrate is thus gathered within the chamber in the form of a powder. The precipitation chamber D is made large so that the material may have room to break up into many small particles in contact with the air; In this way the superficial area of the material is greatly increased and the contact with the dry air causes the great evaporation with resultant ,drop irrtemperatureand air pressure. From this point onit will be noted that. a stream of air through the equipment has a greatly increased moisture content. When the air ente,rs the chamber D it is heated to 350 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, or even higher. Then because of the instantaneous natural evaporation, a high degree of vacuum is maintained and the solids drop. When they drop they have lost a large proportion of their original moisture. Then they enter the conduit wherein the final drier H is located. Here the last traces of moisture are removed. In the present instance this drier takes the form of a modified sanitary hammer-mill. In that It is forced and is given first is a cold wail vat mill the particles are violently 'jostled with the result'that such further moisture as they contain, or at least a large portion of it, is brought to the surface and removed by the stream of unsaturated air. This action of the hammer mill to travel through a long distance while being jostled. They are carried. around and around in the mill as they pass through it. Then the stream of intermingled moist air and powder is caused to flow through the primary powder collector K by. the suction of a suction fan L. In the primary collector K the greater portion of the powder is collected. A small amount of powder passes on beyond-the primary collector K inthe sucked by the fan L and then forced by it through suitable piping to' the secondary powder collectors M and N. Here the residuum of the powder is recovered. Then through suitably operated powder valves the contents ,of the three collectors, K, M and N, is collected in the inlet Referring now to the different pieces of appa- 'it will be noted that the A. This vat may be of any preferred construction. A suitable vat is disclosed in the application of Timothy Mojonnier, Serial No. 426,162, filed January 9, 1942, for Vats, issued on June 1, 1943, as Patent No. 2,320,531 This vat is supplied with egg meat through a pipe 40. From A a. pipe 4| leads to the egg filter B.

, Theegg filter B may be of any desired construction and is located between the pipe 4| and the pipe 42.

The pipe 42 leads to a high pressure pump C.

ters ofthe spray systems, alternate pipes 46 ex- 3 tending upwardto mediate pipes."

extending downward to the pitation chamber D and there spray head 41. Thespraynozzles detail ilnFigS. 12 to 19 inclusive.

| earlyillustrated, it is supported cfgmplete the well for the chamay be provided. ovate the heaters E by which air is unde e p l of the IanL, we find that the air is first vfiltered1 by passing. through air filters 51 [l ithin thel room fl. It is drawn into by the dis'tantlylocated fanL) through er s E The; room .58 may be provided penings: illfor entrance. This the building and is formed by [to eparatethe chamberD fromthe be present instance there are ten filteredair uponpassing from the chamt passes horizontally through the interior ents firstin one direction and then inthe opposite as indicatedby the arrows 69, andflnally out. through thehot air duct H where it nfto the vacuum snail shells G. For

regulating the amount of air so achhea rwill do its part of the totalwork, the "is provided atsome point in each air passag a fol-example in the outlet H, a. damper .1. Thus, therfeis a damper 14 associated with each ofthe heaters E seas toregulate theamount ..,o1 Qairl by that particular heater. Inthis way aehheater made to do its share of the n butlthroughthestack 15. A direct n pro ides for this. A damper T9 in llfprodu s aircr w draft n the stack. 1 The heater se iorms no part oi the present inven .Jti needhot befurther described.

to the snai lfshell devicesG, designated generally Efincludes the heater outlet 1 l, the main upright th peripheral flue and the branch 2,387,458 Q the upper set and the interfof thesepipesftfi extends well.

The fourth corner is the theflnal drier H is located. Hence.

tr ative. Any preferred supporting iits ipassage through the apparatus 9. After passing the filters 51 it enters 5 Gig; a: and 64, the wall 54 being arrows 68 indicate the direction oi while thearrows 69show the dideep ning into the stack connectco trols thenowof the gas through. Afia 80 driven by an electric motor ue by which the heated air is conducted fiues 8| and 89, the lines 84 being provided for connection with the lower snail shells G and the flues 85 in connection with the upper set.

The snail shell G is practically the same in each .5 instance. Inonje case there is a diverted outlet into the precipitation chamber D but in other respects the snail shellis the same. This will be referred to later. The snail shells G are arranged-about the wall of the precipitation chamber- D and each com prises a straight path anda plurality of spiral paths. Thuaeachis a spiral device for spirally projecting air mm the chamber D, In the present instance it will suffice to describe a snail shell the flue 84. Thus, the air enters the straight tubular portion which is part, or continuation, of the vertical flue 85 and'is at oncedivided into four spiral paths. These paths all lie between wall 80, and betweenthe common flat plates ill and 92 which serve what might be called the side walls of all of the paths boths'traight and curved,

intermediate: curved partitions 93, '94 and 95. Theyterminate uponthe surface of an imaginary of the sprayhead 41. Thus, the path between the curved walls 89 and 93 terminates atthe point 96, the path between the curved walls 93 and M at the point 91, the pathsbetween the walls 84 and 95 at the point 98, and the path between be seen that the rush of air which entersthe snail shell through the straight tubular extension outlet tube J00 which is continued on intethe chamberiD. The effect will be to cause the air topass out of the outlet lllo in a swirling motion in the midst of which the spray of the egg meat occurs.

In the entrance to the snail shell G is a damper I03 operated bya handle 04. This damper may be variously set as required in operation. By means of the several dampers, one upon each snailshell, the amount of an delivered by each may be regulated. In the walls 89 and 90 the valve I 03 finds its. pivoted support. It is shown as a simple butterfiyvalve. Any suitable means may be employed forholding the damper in a set position. Thus, a fixed disk I06 having a number of holes lli'l in it may be used in con- 5 junction with an arm Hi8 fixed to the damper shaft. When the damper is set a hole 189 in the arm is made to register with one of the holes II". The holes I01 are sufficiently close together to provide for any reasonable adjustment. A pin H0 may be thrust intothe hole Hit and the selected hole 11- tohold the damper in adjusted.

end I00 is provided with a tubular extension ill,

The extension is firmly secured, preferably by Weldingwithin ari opening in the wall iii of the chamber D. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, this tubular extension HI passes through the wall it? at an angle. The extension is first positioned in the wall 49 and welded therein and finally the snail shell is lifted up in place and the end H0 and extension, I I l are secured together, preferably also by welding. n When it comes to diverting the outlet to one 5 sidepas is the case with one of the snail shells G,

G associated with the upright flue instead of the outercurved'wa11 89 and theinnercurved The respective curved paths are formed by the cylinder having its axis coincident with the axis the walls as and so at the point 99. Thus, it will will emerge as a spirally directed mass into the i t the outlet end of the snailshell the tubular namely that having the outlet I I4, itwill be, noted that the same is welded into the wall 49 of the chber D just as was the extension II I. When the diverting tube is welded to the end IIIII of the snail shell G and finally the shell is properly positioned with the diverting tube attached and then the joint between th previously positioned tube-I and the diverting tube II 5 is completed. l

it-will be noted that the spray pipes 46 follow along the axis 01 the snail shell device to a point just a little in advance of the end of the outlet MI in the case of the undiverted structures and to apoint Just in advance or the outlet H4 in th case of the diverted structure. There it tertes in the spray head 41. l It will be noted that the diversion introduced .by the tubular pipe H5 is occasioned by the pres-- enceoi the inclined final drier H at that point. We may next consider the spiral spray device. it may be variously constructed. The disclosure in this respect is merely illustrative. The spray I head il is located at thedelivery end of the spray pipe 48 and comprises a casing member I I6 which is screwed upon the end of the pipe 46. At its outer end it is exterlorly threaded for the recep tion of a cap I". When the parts are assembled there lies between the cap Ill and the shoulder IE8 of. the member II 8 an inlet element 8 and a main spraying member I2II. The iormer is provided with four openings I2I each of which extends completely through the disk. These are positioned about the disk, as illustrated. When the parts are in assembled position the passages iii communicate with an annular space I22 cut into theadiacent face of the main spraying member IZd. Thus the face of the member H9 engages the faces I23 and I24 of the member I20. it is notedthat the disk H8 fits loosely within the devices but when pressed by the egg meat is iorced against the faces I23 and I it. Through the center of the member I20, extending axially oi the piece, is a central opening I25 which tapers from a wide opening atithe intake end to a narrowed, opening at the outlet end. Two passages are and it! extend outward from the inlet end of the opening I25 through the separating wall to the space I22. These passages are tangential to the circular wall of the inlet opening I25. ifonsecuently the portion of the egg meat which is driven therethrough will be given a swirling motion as itpasses from the opening I25.-

The spray nozzzles, per se, i'orm no part of the present invention except as they may occur in combination, and hence they need not be more fully described. The one shown is merely illustrative'.

Having considered the snail shell and spray devices, we may now consider their action when in operation. Thus, as indicated in Figs. 12 and 2c the spray device ordinarily sends out its spray in a direction covering an angle of 100 degrees.

lit also sends it out in a swirl. The direction of the swirl is opposed to that of the air. This is indicated in Fig. 21 by the arrows lit. The direction in which the axis of these two devices the left hand and the air issuing fromthe discharge outlet II I is shown at thj right hand in. said figure. The direction of theairfiijo sindicated in Fig. 21 by the arrow I32. spread of the air stream is also conslderablefas will 1 appear from an inspection of 20;. .From what is shown and from a considerationotthe opp'osite swirls of the air and egg meatit wlllfbe clear that there is an increased degree o'f intermixture. The fact that both are projected with 'greatpressure will thus materially increase the-mixing oi' the air and egg meat. Furthermore, discharging both in a direction tangential'to the imaginary circles will tend to propel themass about the center of the chamber D as it downward to enter the final dryer H. 'WhenIthe, heated air and the egg meat are thus mixed, there will be a heavy drop in temperature and the deposit of a large percentage of powdered egg in the bottom of the chamber D. The powder thus precipitated is next" passed through the final dryer H. This is located at the point of the cone forming the bottom of the precipitation chamber D. All the powder and the air, now laden with moisture and at a; much lower temperature, passes from the chamber D into the lower end of the drier H.

projects'isitangential to animaginary circle I29.

cieariy indicated by the dotted tangents I30 and the imaginary circle I29 in Figs. l and 20. It will he noted that one imaginary circle I29 with its tangent iilil lies in the plane of theupper set of devices and the other in the plane of the lower set. These imaginary circles have their centers in the axis of the chamber. The spray issuing from the spray head "is indicated in Fig. 20 at The apparatus H which-comprises an improved form of hammer-mill, includes. a cylindrical casing I33 having a lower end I34 closed except for the inlet I35 from the bottom of the chamber D. The egg meat powder is brought into the lower end of the casing I33 and is there beaten up. or jostled to bring about the abstraction of more moisture. Within the casing I33 is a shaft I provided with suitable bearings. I3I and I" at its opposite ends, the former being located outside the casing. A pulley I39 is keyed to the shaft I36 at a point below the casing I33-and the bearing I37. By means of a suitable belt I40 the shaft I35 is driven by an electric motor I. The

speed of the shaft I38, in the particularinstallation chosen as a disclosure of the, invention, is very high, approximating 1000 R. P. M. and the electric motor operates at 1800 R. P. M. The motor I 4| is mounted to be with itsaxis parallel to the shaft 538. This shaft is provided with an intermediate bearing I42 mounted at the center of a web I43 secured at its ends to the casing Ill. similarly, the bearing I38 is mounted at the cen-.

ter of a web I44 which is secured atits ends to the casing I33, preferably by welding.

The lower end of the shaft I38 carries a pro- ,peller- I45 having two propeller blades. Mounted upon the shaft I36 are a number of rods or vanes I46 which are arranged in a spiral fashion. Each set of rods M6 is offset with reference to the set directly beneath it, a slight amount. In the installation shown, this ofl'set amounts to six degrees. As shown in Fig. 23 each set of vanes I46 comprises four vanes; Cooperatin with these spirally mounted vanes I46 are fixed vanes I41. The fixed vanes extend inward from the wall of the casing I33. There is one row of thefixed vanes, although if found necessary there may be two or more, as desired. These vanes or blades I46 and I41 extend throughout the greater portion. of the casing I33 of the hammer-mill. There is left however, a considerable space in the vicinity of the propeller I45. This I" rods I46 and cooperating fixed rods It permits of a light construction.

beat up and thoroughly agitate the powder.

Q For supporting the shell Iltaplurality of le s ll l j are; provided. At their upper ends these legs are secured to a ring I which surrounds the d cylindrical structure andqisproperly secured to It; The lower ends of thelegs I are likewise provided with shoes I" which rest upon the .Obvlously, the bearings m and in may be variously constructed. I The bearing I28, however. Isia thrust bearing and may require a little consideration.

collar III. Asimilar collar IE2 is located I some. distance from the end of the shaft. These collars are secured to the shaft by flat head bolts, III. I. Between the thrust collars III and I52I f At one end 'of the shaft is a I cooling system. 4

. Taking up the frame structure, it will be noted deposit the residue within the inlet pipe "01' the that there are uprights and beams. The uprights Ill, I89, I99 and I99 extend the fullextent, namely, through three floors. The beams of the second floor are the beams I9I, I92, I92 and Ill. Those of the third floor are the beams I95,'I99,

I I91 and I99. For the upper roof structure there are the beams I99, 200,2" and 202. These posts and beams are arranged in common factory constructiom Ordinarily reinforced concrete would be employed. However, any other preferred construction might be used for the housing and for the supporting elements.

The floor structure 299 covers the beams on the second floor. A similar structure 204 is employed for the third floor. The roof comprises the surface structure 295. The floors are cut away where is an outwardly convened segmental bearing I59.I

Withinthe space formed within the I bearing I member I" and outwardly of the convexed segmentalbearing III is a palrof cooperating bear- I I him; I. ,The bearings I5! and I" serve as runways for the bearingrollers Ill. There are two] sets ofrollers I" carried within suitable Inga grease seal. Thus the end of the shaft I29 is mounted for rotation within the bearing I 38.

The

.-' I second floor.

baskets I59. The whole is enclosedby a threaded I sleeve III'Which is screwed into the interior of the 1 main bearing I I" by a suitable spanner" wrench acting within the openings I60. .1 grooves. III are lprovided for the purpose of givupper end of the hammer-mill H is connected through suitable tubing to the intake I94. ot the primary collector K. This tubing includes the relatively straight tubes I", I69, I91 with intervening elbows'Ill, I". The intake I is shaped to maintain its cross .section the same Qfasthatof the pipe I91. It is-madenarr'ow and I j deepgas illustrated. The intake Ill. is approxie mately tangentialto the collector K as is usual in cyclone construction. It includesan upper cypowder valve I12 which leads to the cooling sy 1 tem. -'I 'he fan Lapplies asuction through an elbow I'll which carries 01! some of to the secondary collectors M and N.

The primary collector K is mounted upon the sameIlevel as theframe 52in whichthe precipi- -tatIon chamber D is mounted,.and projects a 1 short distance below that level. mounted at the elevation shown upon asuitable bracketI I14; carried near the upper end of the collectonK. An electric motor I" drives the foul. through a suitable belt connection I19.

I After passing the primary collector Kr very little: powder will remain. Any that does is at I oncepassed into the inlets of thelsecondary collectors M and N. One ofthese connections is [made through pipe I11 and other through pipe The fan L is it isnecessary to place the diflerent elements of the system.

Besides'these parts. there are the beams 206,

29'l and 208 arranged in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 4." These occupy the second floor of the structure which is in line with the previously described floor structure 55. The collector K is supported above the second floor by a plurality of legs 2I I, and extends through an opening in'the Obviously, this construction may be varied according to the Judgment oil the designer. V a

The rotary powder valve I12 has its upper end 2I2 connected'to the outlet end of the collector K and its lower end.2ll connected to the tubular intake 222 of the cooling system which is supplied with a diilerent vacuum from that of the collector.

The valve I12 is power driven preferably by an" electric motor (not shown). The valves: I93 and U I are of the same construction.

\ lindrical portion I'IO and is lower conical portion I III. IAtIitsloWer end it is provided with athe powder I 112. arethe ordinary cyclones and sepav I my the material from thejair by ordinary cy- I clonicfaction. The heavier particles settle and the; lighter ones are carried through the stacks.

I .Illajnd III. From thedelivery points of these cyclones; M and N, the residueof the powder collected is carried through theItubesIUI and I82 to thepowdervalves Ill and I". These valves Since the valves I92 and I84 are the valves 01' the secondary collectors Mand N, they-are used in depositing the contents oi those collectors with-- in the same intake 222 of the cooling system. The

valve I182 connects the outlettube 'I9I with the intake 222' at the point 229. Similarly the valve I94 connects the tubular outlet I82 of the secondary collectorN to the intake tube 222 at the DointflII.

It is. at once obvious that the apparatus might end here. That is tosay. the product powder might be deposited by the valves I12, I82 and I94 into receptacles (not shown) and the cooling system might be avoided. But, inasmuch as the powder is hot, namely about degrees Fahrenheit, it may be well to cool it. Whether or not it is to be cooled depends largely upon the original substance which is being treated.

Going onthen with the cooling system, it will be noted that the intake 222 is made up of a horizontal tube 23I, a vertical tube 232 and a second horizontal tube 233. These are connected together as shown and terminate in the intake tube 234 of the primary cooling cyclone P. The outlet from this cyclone isdeslgnatedfli and leads upward to a horizontal tube 235, which isconnected tangentially to the secondary cooling cyclone Q. The

outlet of this secondary cyclone is a tube 221 which extends verticallyand is connected to a horizontal tube 238 which connects through an e1 bow 239 with the tube I12 on the primary collector K.

Thus it. will be seen that the fan L by pulling air through the collector K of the main system will exert a certain pull upon the air admitted to the intake of the cooling system. Specifically, this pull will be exerted through the secondary cooling cyclone Q, the primary cooling cyclone P and thence to the intake 222. Thus the powder depositedby the valves I12, I83 and I84 will be drawn through the intake 222 of the cooling systo receive a charge of ammonia, and thus providea cooling surface. In the device shown, it will be necessary to cool down the powder from about 100 degrees Fahrenheit to about 65 de rees. The cooling unit must be of sufflcient capacity to cool about 2,000 cubic feet of air per'minute entering the. intake 222. Obviously, as the cold .air is sucked through the intake 222 and the primary and secondary cyclones, all the contents or the system will be passed through this cooling, tube and collected primarily in the cooling cyclone P and such as goes beyond that cyclone will be collected in the secondary cooling cyclone Q. That which is collected by the cyclone P passes downward through a collecting tube 242. Similarly that which is collected by the cyclone Q passes down through tube 243. Rotary powder valves 244 and 245 control these outlets 242 and 243 respectively. These valves are the same in construction as the valve I12 previously described.- From these valves the powder passes down into the sifter R.

The sifter R comprises a boxlike structure having a frusto-pyramidal bottom 249 with a delivery opening at its low point. It isconnected at its upper side to receive powder from the valves 244 and 245, connection being established through the collars 255 engaging the downward projections 2i8 upon the valves. A cold air inlet duct 210 is provided at the end of the sifter R. The rotary elements of the sitter are preferably power driven. an electric motor (not shown) being preferably provided for the purpose.

From this it will be seen that the cooled prodtotal solids and the temperature of the air there uct is received within the sitter and deposited into a suitable container.

Except for the material employed in the build ing structure, all the other materials are practically steel or iron or otherwise as will be obvious.

In a plant having the capacity of about 1000 pounds of egg powder per hour, it will be'necessary tohave a precipitation chamber about 38 feet in diameter with a height or'about 54 feet, with the other parts in the proportion shown. In such a system the tan L will have a capacity of about 16,000 cubic feet per minute at about 130 degrees Fahrenheit. The air will be heated from 350 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit at the heaters. Upon reaching the precipitation chamber there will be a drop to about 145 degrees Fahrenheit, which will be reduced slightly and delivered to the secondary collector at approximately 130 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit. The egg meat is introduced through the various vacuum spray devices at about 3000 pounds pressure per square inch. It is supplied through the cold wall vat at about 40 de rees Fahrenheit or lower. Egg meat tests 27% total solids when in its liquid state. This means i that 3700 pounds of egg meat per hour are required to produce 1000 pounds of powder per hour. In other words, about 2700 pounds of moisture per hour would be evaporated.

The temperature of the air must be kept up so that the air never becomes fully saturated.

The vacuum produced by the fan will ordinarily be measured in inches of water. When to eastotal solids.

ured it will run approximately inches at the intakes to the heaters, 1% inches'ati'th heater outlets, 2% inches at each of the vacuum spray devices, 3 inches at the entrance to the hammer-mill, 4 inches at the entrance to the primary collector and 12 inches at the fan. This is all suction. From the Ian on it will bepressure. The amounts will be approximately'3% inches at the fan outlet and% inch at the secondary collector outlets I50 and I5 I. i

In this process the greater portion or the moisture is taken up when the substance mingles with the air in the precipitation chamben; "Before it is dehydrated, it may contain from 27% to 40% When introduced at 3,000 pounds pressure per square inch into the chamber with air at 350 or. 400 degrees Fahrenheit, it is reduced to practically 92% total solids when it is collected at the bottom of the precipitation chamber, and subsequently in the final drier-is brought to a powder having upwards of 95% total solids.

In the cooling system the pressure at'ithe entrance to the intake is approximately i'i'rom 2 inches to 5 inches. At the inlet to theprimary cooler cyclone it is 6 inches. A; the inlet to the secondary cyclone 9 inches, and at the point where it enters the main stream of air, 12 inches.

While the above data is given morei or less detail it is to be understood that the same is given by way of example only and thatithe invention may vary within wide limits.

Thus, the initial substance may vary greatly in moisture content and will be considered a powder when the same has a moisture content of less than ten per cent. The spray may also be varied. Much will depend upon the substance employed. A pressure at the intakes may be used which is as low as 1500 pounds per square inch. The temperature within the chamber may alsobe greatly varied. It will ordinarily suilice if as low as 250 degrees Fahrenheit. The action within the chamber may reduce the substance only to 8.5 per cent.

be only degrees Fahrenheit.

These values will give some idea 01' ,the. scope of the invention, which should not be limited beyond the terms oi the appended claims.

It is believed that the invention will be sufllciently understood with the examples given. Such changes. as may be made in the practice of the invention will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art without further disclosure.

I claim:

1. The method of dehydrating a liquid substance of the class described in a gaseous drying i medium; which method consists in continuously sucking a stream of the heated medium through a closed path including a precipitation chamber, a conduit and a cyclone in series; givin the medium a swirling motion in said chamber: injecting the liquid substance under pressure into the swirling medium within said chamber, thereby precipitating the substance as a powder within said chamber, the medium giving oil heat and taking up moisture; then violently jostling the precipitate wholly within the suction stream of heated medium, within the conduit after it leaves the precipitation chamber and before it enters the cyclone, to extract more moisture from it and add the same to the moisture content of the stream of heated medium but still without increasing its moisture up to the saturation point; and finally separating the resulting product from the medium in part by cyclonic suction action.

2. The method of dehydrating a liquid substance of theclass described-ins. gaseous drying medium; which method consists in continuously theyprecipitate jby hammer-mill action to ex-f tractinore moistureki'rom theprecipitate and add t to the! fast flowing stream of heated medium ,withoutyincreasing its moisture up to the satura# tion point; and finally separating the resulting product mm the medium byicyclonic action.

3.;The methodroi' dehydrating a liquid substance: cohtaining up ads of twelve per cent. M total solids to a practR ing upwards of ninety per cent. total solids; whichflmethod consists in continuously forcing a ally dry-powder containray: of said llquidsubstance: ata pressure upward iiitejenhundred pounds per square inch intoIaQcWhirling mass otheated air supplied by suction to a relatively large capacity closed chamber at a temperature upwards oi' two hundred andgiiity degrees Fahrenheit, thereby. by

natural evaporation within the chamber large quantities of water are given oilby-the substance ndtaken up by the air the substance being reduced to .uowards oi eighty-fiveper cent. total l solids and t e temperature of the air being reduced toupwards of one hundred and twenty degrees Fahrenheit; thenisubjecting the resultant substance to violent jostling within the suction j streamat upwards of one hundredand twenty degrees il ahrenheit; thereb reducing the sub ammo a fine powder oi' upwards of ninety percent. totalesolidsand. theair suction taking u more of thejmoisture; thenseparating the resultin powder from the moist air? while still und ction,the moist air of said stream never reaching the saturation point; and ilnallysepa rating the. residual powder from the moist air by cyclonic action.

4. The method 01' dehydrating egg meat to a practically dry powder containing upwards. of

ninety-five per cent. total solids; which method consists in continuously forcing the egg meat at a pressure of substantially three thousand pounds per square inch into a whirling spray of heatedgair within a relatively large capacity closed chamber supplied by suction at a temperature ot substantially three hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit, thereby by natural evaporation within the chamberlarge quantities of water are given on by the egg meat and taken up by the air,ltheegg meat being reduced to practically ninety I-two per cent. total solids and the temperature oi the air being reduced to approxij mately one hundred and forty-five degrees Fahrenheity then subjecting the resulting powdered eggmeat toviolent jostling within the air stream at approximately the same temperature, thereby reducinggthe egg meat to a fine powder-oi at least ninety-five per cent. total solids, and the airj stream. taking up additionalmoisture; then separating the powdered egg product from the air; themoist air of said stream never reaching; its saturation point; and finallyseparating the. remaining e88 Powder from the moist air by cyclonic action.

n 5. The method or dryinga liquid substance of; theiclass described; which method consists in.

providing a closed path [ton-the substance including a precipitation chamber, a hammer mill and cyclone in series; drawing a stream or hot path, said air entering the path at a temperature of upwards of tw hundred and fiitydegrees Fahrenheit; projecting a spray of the substance into said precipitation chamber at a presair at sub-atmosphericpressure through said square inch thereby by natural evaporation within said chamber greatl lowering the temperature of the air and precipitatingthesubstance sure of upwards oi fifteen hundred pounds per as a powder, subsequently beating said powder in said hammer mill in the stream of heated air and vapor at its, reduced'temperature as it draws the powder. onward through said path, and then separating the powder and unsaturated stream .of vaporized air bycyclonic action, e V 6. The method of drying at liquid substance of the class described; which -method-consists in providing a closed path for the substanceincluding a precipitation chamber, a'hammer mill and a cyclone in series; drawing a stream of heated a r at sub-atmospheric pressure through saidpath. said air varying in degree of vacuum from point to point, in temperature from a maximum at the intake to a minimumat the outlet and in .moisture contentpas it takes up moisture from the initially liquid substance; projecting a spray of the liquid substance into the precipitation chamber at a high pressure thereby by natural evaporation within the chamber greatly lowering the temperature of the air and precipitating the substance as a powder; subsequently treating said powder to jostling-within the stream of beatedair to remove some or the moisture therefrom: and subsequently collecting the subse opently treated powder.

7. An apparatus for dry ng a liquid substance of the class described; compr sing a closed preci itation chambemxa plurality of spray devices arran ed about the chamber in position to supply the liquidmaterial to the interior of thechamber; spiral devices associated with the spray devices providing access to the chamber to thoroughly I mixthe incoming medium and substance; means communicating with the chamber for violently jostling the mixture; a tubular conduit leading from said jostling means; a cyclonic collector operat vely connected to the tubular conduit; a

suction fan communicating with the outlet 01' said collector; a heater for the medium entering the chamber; means associated with the heater for regulating the flow of the medium whereby a stream of the hot medium is maintained at subatmospheric .pressure through said chamber, Jostlingmeans conduit and cyclonic collector by said fan; and means for receiving said productircm said collector. the air and vapor continuing on throu h said fan.

8. An apparatus for drying a liquid substance of the class described; comprising a closed precipitation chamber; a plurality of spray devices arranged about the chamber in position to supply the l quid material to the interior of the chamber; spiral devices associated with the spray devices providin access to the' chamber to thoroughly outlet; a cyclonic collector operatively connected to the tubular conduit; asuction fan communicating with the outlet of said collector; a heater for the medium entering the chamber; means a. An apparatus l'or drying a liquid substance oi the class described; comprising aheater; a

closed precipitation chamber; a lurality of spiral devices in said chamber about the. walls thereof: jostling-means communicating with said chamher; a tubular conduit leading from said jostling means; a cyclonic collector operativcly connected to said tubular conduit: a suction tan communieating with the outlet or said collector and operative to draw a'strcam oi heated air from said heater through said precipitationchamber, said jostling means, saidtubular conduit and said collector, all of said elements being closed oi! i'rom atmosphere whereby ,a subatmospheric pressure is maintained therein; a plurality of spray devices associated with said spiral devices providing access to said chamber; and means for supp y said liquid material to said spray devices and thence to the interior oi said chamber whereby in operation the substance is precipiin powdered form in the bottom of said chamber and is subsequently Jostled all in the same stream or heated air and separated within said collector.

to; An apparatus for drying a liquid substance oi. the class described: comprising a closed precipitationchamber: a plurality of snail shells communicating with said chamber at diiierent points arranged about the chamber, eachsaid shell pointing in a direction tangential to an aasmsa let 01 said shell within the chamber where its spray will be discharged spirally in a direction opposed to thato! said medium; means communicating'with the chamber at a point below said spiral devices for violently jostling the mixture; a tubular conduit leading from said jostling oithe medium whereby ,a stream oithe hotlmedium is maintained at sub-atmospheric prmsure through said chamber, jostling means, conduit and cyclonic collector by said fan; and means vfor chamber; means for supplying liquid substance to the interior oi the chamber; means through whicha gaseous medium may be drawn into the chamber and mixed-with the liquid substance; means communicating with the chamber for violently jostling the mixture; a tubular'conduit leading from said jostling means; a primary cyclonic collector operatively connected to said tubular conduit; a tan communicatingwith the outlet of said collector by a suction action; a

secondary cyclonic-collecting means communicating with the outlet or said fan and'receiv ing pressure therefrom, whereby the primary collector operates by suction and the secondary col-' lecting meansoperates by pressure; a heater for imaginary circle having the axis oithe chamber as its center and each-said shell opening into the chamberin a curved path togive the incoming medium a swirl in one direction; a plurality oi spiral spray devices one for each shell, each spray device being practically concentric with its associated shell and terminating beyond the outthe medium entering the chamber; and means associated with the heater for regulating the now of the medium, whereby a stream oithe hot medium is maintained at sub-atmospheric pressure through said chamber, jostling meanspconduit and'primary collector up to thcrsuction side of said tan and from there on out throush the secondary collecting means as a pressure stream JULIUS' J. MOJONNIER. 

